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Breaking: The massive Cut Cap Balance coalition, representing millions of fiscally conservative Americans, has just issued the following statement in strong opposition to the Boehner "debt & tax hike" plan. (At presstime, we have not received the complete list of all the groups that have signed this message; but we will do so ASAP.)

Memo

To: All Interested Parties

From: Members of the Cut, Cap, Balance Coalition

Date: 7/26/2011

Re: Clarification of the CCB Coalition Stance on the Speaker’s Legislative Proposal

While we salute Speaker Boehner for his indefatigable efforts to forge some new agreement breaking the debt ceiling stalemate, we cannot support his latest package. It is both bad policy and a violation of the Cut, Cap and Balance Pledge.

It is bad policy in that the commission the proposal empowers opens the door to tax increases — a door that the Speaker himself had previously, and courageously, insisted was shut.

Moreover, this plan offers no enduring protections against the well-known pattern of postponing spending cuts until years in the future, where they are subject to reduction, revision or total disappearance, while the debt ceiling increase takes effect immediately. Thus, the much-heralded ratio of cuts to increases at greater than one-to-one is likely to be illusory. It is also contrary to the spirit of the Pledge to separate a conforming Balanced Budget Amendment from the rest of the debt ceiling consideration.

The greatest concern to the Cut, Cap and Balance Coalition is the integrity of the Cut, Cap and Balance Pledge that was signed by 39 House Members and 12 Senators and whether voting for the proposed deal constitutes a Pledge violation. We hold that is does violate the pledge, on several grounds:

Cuts: Although the Pledge does not specify a numerical threshold for immediate budget cuts, it says that "substantial" cuts are required "next year" and beyond. The Cut, Cap and Balance Act specified $111 Billion in FY 2012 cuts, while the Boehner plan's first-year cuts may be as low as $7 billion, according to former Congressman Ernest Istook of the Heritage Foundation, or even $6 billion, in other analyses — less than one day of federal government spending. In the context of a problem measured in the trillions of dollars, a cut of $7 billion is well short of the "substantial" standard.

Caps: Limiting the caps on spending to the one-third of the budget that is "discretionary" means that the entitlement reform that the ratings agencies demand is unlikely to occur. As a result, total federal spending is not really "capped" at all.

Balance: Allowing an increase in the debt ceiling without passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment, coupled with omitting the critically-important spending restraints and supermajority for new taxes from the definition of a conforming Balanced Budget Amendment, virtually assures that any vote would be, at best, a purely symbolic vote on a toothless amendment.

Finally, we want to address the argument proffered by some Members of Congress who have signed the CCB Pledge that voting for the Boehner bill is not a Pledge violation, because the proposed bill does not contain an explicit approval of a debt ceiling increase. This is fallacious on two counts: First, since only Congress has the Constitutional authority to authorize debt on behalf of the United States, if this bill does not actually authorize new debt, then it must be unconstitutional. Second, it specifies exact amounts of new debt that become authorized at certain points in time as a consequence of this bill. It is therefore foolish to claim that voting for the bill does not constitute a vote for increasing the debt ceiling in those amounts.

The best plan to address the debt ceiling crisis and plausibly to retain America's AAA credit rating remains the Cut, Cap and Balance Act. It may be simplified as CCB = AAA. That's in America's best interest.

We urge Senate Majority Leader Reid to reconsider the tabled bill and let the Senate debate it fully, in full view of the American people — so that it may garner the four or five votes that it needs to pass — and to agree that it should pass without invoking the 60 vote cloture threshold in recognition of the urgency of the matter.

Its a lie- the idea that we will default, the idea that we need more money because we are running out of it. If anyone asked you to borrow money when you had been giving them money every paycheck all your life and they said they were broke, even though they were saving that money for you, would that make sense? Where is your money? Somehow, Congress has taken our money all our lives and is now saying, owe, huhuh, we need more, actually, and we can't give back what you've given us. But we need more. And, no, you can't have a higher credit limit on YOUR own credit card to help pay us. Ya, if AMERICA falls for that line, this country deserves what we get! The founding fathers expected us to maintain our intelligence, maintain our knowledge, but we are playing a shell game right before our eyes and so many believe it because hey, that's what the news says, that's what the teachers say. that's what the government says, they can't all be lying? Well, If they aren't lying now, Then it must have been those who signed the bill starting Social Security, starting Medicaid, because they obviously didn't really MEAN to say the money would be there! ANYONE believing these lies of raise the debt ceiling or else- we are running out of money- anyone believing these lies deserves to lose the America they have now, because those who gave us this AMERICA, who died for her, who sacrificed their families, their fortunes, and perhaps all that they knew to create her, they DO NOT DESERVE to be SO DESECRATED by such laziness! If this is how we hold their torch, how we show them our appreciation, WE DESERVE TO LOSE THIS GREAT COUNTRY FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT SHE IS, NOT WHAT SHE IS WORTH, NOR DO WE KNOW WHY SHE IS HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!

We should STAND TOGETHER on this and not let even Boehner crack down or weaken to a lesser position. The Cut, Cap, & Balance is the place to stand firm. Don't give them (Dem's) not one blessed inch more.. not one moment more, & not one dollar more. Enough damage has been done. Too much in fact. It is doubtful that we can keep Americans going even as it is, but nothing more can be lost. This is a war.. and this is a place to make a stand for conservatives and Christians alike..

I was standing side by side with Speaker Boehner up until yesterday. His plan is weak and he needs to go back to the drawing board! To allow an immediate debt ceiling hike with no immediate spending cuts is just more of kicking the can down the road. He proposes that these cuts take place over a 10 year period! Without a balanced budget amendment how many times will the debt ceiling be raised in 10 years. I also think the gang of 12 approach is ludicrous! The gang of 6 was a complete wash-out so what makes then think that a bigger gang is gonna get the job done?? Enough is enough!

I'ts "We the People" Boehner!!!! Do what you said you where going to do in your campaign! Don't let the people down, Obama is not truthfull he's trying to intimidate you. If you fail to resolve our nationa debt issue you alone will change the face of this nation for the worst.

Why! We should have known he'd soften his stance. He cried, remember. This is very unfortunate. I thought we would finally have someone on our side.

07/26/2011

Please don't tell me these people are that stupid . . . Where are the names of the organizations supporting this? Because as the FOUNDER AND EDITOR IN CHIEF OF AMERICAN PATRIOTS PRESS (www.americanpatriotspress.com) I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT SPEAKER BOEHNER'S PROPOSITION! AND IF WE NEED TO WE SHALL GET OUR OWN HUGE COALITION OF THOSE WHO SUPPORT SANITY IN SPENDING!

B Van Sant...big deal. I don't care who you are. Titles have proven to be little comfort to the American People. It is the understanding of the issues, the actions then taken, the objectives of those actions and the ultimate goals for those objectives that matter.

We must reduce spending. You cannot be serious about cutting spending and raise the limits on spending. The reasons we face the need for more money is because the demo-socialists over the last three years ran up a huge bill for Americans to pay some time in the future, and now the future is here... The interest payments and the principal were NEVER APPROVED BY We, the People, rather by the non-representatives of the minority position in the nation...the far right liberal Progressive/Socialists/Communists/ who do not represent what is in the best interests of America.

We've fought wars against these kinds of people, these kinds of beliefs, and we have see across history the damage and destruction they cause.

Boehner is a fraud. He says he does not want to spend more, but wants to raise the spending limit...thereby funding all the wasteful programs that the demo-socialists created over the last few years. That is wrong. It is wrong for America, and it must not be allowed. The clock is ticking...and this relationship between our government and we, the people will not long endure if THEY FAIL TO ABIDE BY OUR DIRECTIONS TO STOP SPENDING ON SOCIALISM.

07/26/2011

With all the talks, not once have I heard that congress and the president will take a cut in pay, benefits, expenses and staffing. How about we use that as a starting point for cuts? Then, we move to a full audit of the federal books where businesses have overcharged and idiots in Washington approved the invoice because it wasn't "their" money. From there, we look for padded expense accounts. Businesses should be forced to repay overcharges and members of congress and the pres should pay back padded expenses. Then there is the case of the White House. No more vacations on taxpayer dollars. Set aside $1500 for heating the White House. If the Obamas get cold and the money runs out, let them pay the bill. I am sure there are many Americans that can suggest other cuts as well. Also, if we ENFORCE our immigration laws, there will be a savings there as well.

07/26/2011

what is with the turn against Boehner? don't you want to end the lies?

is ANYONE paying attention to the big picture? This administration has taken the most powerful nation on earth and made it subject to international money changers.

The issue is not that Obama and the Senate have not presented a new budget, it is that they failed last year to create or abide by a budget, and refuse now to accept a budget submitted by the House, which is constitutionally mandated to initiate all spending bills, thereby controlling the limitations upon how much may be spent.

It is the Demo-Socialists that created the current spending crisis over the last four years when they had full control in the POTUS, the House, and the Senate...

Now they seek to force the House to spend more, when we, the people in 2010 said, "Hell No" to more taxes, "Hell No" to more spending, and by the way, "Hell No" to the socialistic programs of the current administration.

07/26/2011

We have to put a STOP to the IDIOTS LIVING OUT OF CONTROL IN WASHINGTON !! I LOVE MY COUNTRY BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ! DO ANY AMERICANS HAVE ANY GUTS ! THE ANSWER IS " THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BIG " YES THAT IS WHAT I SAID !! WE DO NOT NEED ALL THEM PEOPLE WORKING BASICALLY TO LINE THEIR OWN POCKETS !!! WE DO NOT NEED ALL THE PEOPLE WE HAVE IN WASHINGTON !! IT IS TIME FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO STAND UP AND SAY WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH !! THERE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING IS RAISE TAXES !! NOT THE ANSWER AT ALL !! COME ON AMERICA !! IT IS WAY PAST "OUT OF CONTROL" IT IS TIME TO TAKE BACK CONTROL !!

In Louisiana, fiscal integrity is going from bad to worse. Already, the state is facing the largest budget deficit in its entire history, at a whopping $700 million this year, and shortfall projections for next year reaching as high as $1.9 billion. However, in a misguided attempt to try to solve this behemoth of a problem, newly-elected Governor John Bel Edwards has proposed a massive package of tax hikes that affect all walks of life, from personal income to industry. What’s worse, if he has his way in imposing these hikes, the state residents could be feeling the brunt of the costs as early as April of this year. Clearly, Edwards isn’t fixing what ails the state.

As one of over 6.9 million FreedomWorks activists nationwide, I urge you to call your representative and senators and demand that they vote against the disastrous “Bipartisan Budget Act”. Because this bill not only spends well in excess of the budget caps but also suspends the debt ceiling without any major spending reforms, this vote will be weighted double on our Online Congressional Scorecard.

Tick-tock, the debt ceiling deadline is fast approaching, leading, as ever, to the fevered warnings of default from the advocates of endless spending in and around the Beltway. It can't be said often enough: default on the national debt isn't going to happen. In fact, it's all but impossible.

With Paul Ryan still sitting squarely on the fence about whether or not he will run for Speaker of the House, the Republican leadership elections still remain largely up in the air. There has so far been a troubling inability of the conference to identify a suitable candidate who embodies the values that are important to an open congressional process, and who could garner enough support to actually win the election.

As one of our more than 6.9 million FreedomWorks activists nationwide, I urge you to contact your representative today and ask him or her to support Representative Tom McClintock’s Default Prevention Act, H.R. 692. This simple, common-sense piece of legislation would remove any possibility of defaulting on our national debt in the event that we reach our statutory debt limit.

The ever-shifting horizon on when the federal government is scheduled to reach its borrowing limit has most recently been set at November 3rd, just days after John Boehner is scheduled to resign his office. What this means is that no new leadership will save us from yet another increase in the debt ceiling, although there will always be a principled few who will want to resist.

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is reporting that Congress only have until November 5th before the federal government hits its borrowing limit, an earlier date than most analysts were predicting. This can be expected to prompt the perennial debate about the nation’s debt and what, if anything, can be done about it.